d, to pay back that Half-Million and odd Thalers;
and the now Margraf, ever since his accession in 1726, has been annually
doing it. So that there is, at this time, nothing but composed kinship
and friendship between the two Courts, the little and the big: only
Friedrich Wilhelm, especially with his will crossed in this matter of
the Baireuth Marriage, thinks to himself, "Throw more money into such
a gulf? The 600,000 Thalers had better be got out first!" and says, he
will give no Dowry at all, nor take any charge, not so much as give away
the Bride, but be passive in the matter.

Queen Sophie, delighted to conquer Grumkow at any rate, is charmed
with this notion of Baireuth; and for a moment forgets all other
considerations: Should England prove slack and fail, what a resource
will Baireuth be, compared with Weissenfels! And Wilhelmina entering,
her Majesty breaks forth into admiration over the victory, or
half-victory, just gained: What a husband for you this, my dear, in
comparison! And as Wilhelmina cannot quite join in the rapture on
a sudden; and cannot even consent, unless Papa too give his real
countenance to the match, Mamma flies out upon the poor young Lady:
[Wilhelmina, i. 201.] "Take the Grand Turk or the Great Mogul, then,"
said the Queen, "and follow your own caprice! I should not have brought
so many sorrows on myself, had I known you better. Follow the King's
bidding, then; it is your own affair. I will no longer trouble myself
about your concerns;--and spare me, please, the sorrow of your odious
presence, for I cannot stand it!" Wilhelmina wished to reply, but the
answer was, "Silence! Go, I tell you!" "And I retired all in tears."

"All in tears." The Double-Marriage drifting furiously this long while,
in such a sea as never was; and breakers now Close a-lee,--have the
desperate crew fallen to staving-in the liquor-casks, and quarrelling
with one another?--Evident one thing is, her Majesty cannot be
considered a perfectly wise Mother! We shall see what her behavior is,
when Wilhelmina actually weds this respectable young Prince. Ungrateful
creature, to wish Papa's consent as well as mine! that is the maternal
feeling at this moment; and Wilhelmina weeps bitterly, as one of the
unluckiest of young Ladies.

Nay, her Brother himself, who is sick of this permanent hurricane,
and would fain see the end of it at any price, takes Mamma's part;
and Wilhelmina and he come to high words on the matter. This wa